Hymenoplasty

Hymenoplasty is repairing operation of hymenal remnant tissue for mimicking first sexual intercourse again. It’s also be called as ‘Revirgination’. It can be done for small and long term before the marriage. It’s also considered in aesthetic genital surgery.

Conservation of virginity before marriage is still important in Turkey and in many parts of the world (Muslim countries, Catholics, China, India etc.). Especially in these countries, hymenoplasty operations are performed quite commonly.

In this section, common questions will be answered ‘how is hymenoplasty performed, temporary and permanent repair, flap and microsurgery methods in hymen repair’

What is hymen?

The hymen consists of a membranous fold in the entrance of the vagina. It is a thin skin fold. There are different types. In the most common annular (ring) type, there is a hole in the middle part. Thus, menstrual blood discharges. Because of different shapes of the vagina, it may cause problems such as vaginismus or painful sexual intercourse in women.

How is the hymen broken?

Hymen is broken or perforated by sexual intercourse, masturbation into the vagina or accidentally insertion of a sharp object. Especially, involuntary the loss of virginity like harassment and rape will seriously cause psychological complaints. It has been scientifically reported that hymenoplasty operations reduce suicidal tendencies due to severe depression.

As a result of broken hymen due to sex or insertion of a foreign body, sometimes a few drops of blood come and sometimes no bleeding occurs. The breaking of the hymen is called with different expressions among people such as ‘loss of virginity’ or ‘perforation of the hymen’. 

Hymenoplasty operations include all procedures performed to repair hymen and provide revirginization.

What is hymenoplasty?

Hymenoplasty includes all genital aesthetic operations performed for repair of the hymen. It can be expressed with different definitions such as ‘repair of hymen’,  ‘revirginization’, ‘virginity repair’, ‘hymen stitching’ or ‘hymenoraphy’.

Types of hymen

There are different types of hymen. The most common hymen type in girls is the annular (ring) form. The hard, half-moon type, sieve or interstitial (septated) types of hymen can cause sexual intercourse problems (vaginismus) and sexual pain (dyspareunia).

What is hymenoplasty?

In Latin, hymen refers to the organ name and -plasty means an aesthetic operation. Therefore, this operation is called as hymenoplasty.

How is hymenoplasty performed?

Hymenoplasty, repair of hymen, can be performed in two ways.

Depending on one’s wish and wedding date:

• Temporary repair: Hymen repair which is done within one week before marrying
• Permanent repair: Long-term repair independent from wedding date, it’s long standing

Permanent hymen repair can be made with flap surgery and microsurgery methods. Vaginal tightening can be performed at the same session with the microsurgery method which is most commonly preferred especially in recent years. Vagina tightening procedure can also be performed with vaginal carbondioxide (CO2) laser contemporarily.

How much does hymenoplasty cost? Pricing

Hymenoplasty prices vary in different countries. It can be done at our Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir clinics. The experience of the physician who will perform the operation, price policy, permanent or temporary repair, and whether a vaginal tightening operation will be performed in the same session is important issues for the costs and pricing.

These factors should also be considered for the success of operation besides costs of the operation:

• Hygiene and sterility conditions of the clinic
• Technical equipment which can apply special microsurgery techniques
• Choosing quality threads and appropriate operation materials depending on the operation type
• Experience of gynecologist about hymenoplasty and genital aesthetic operations

Hymenoplasty and success

Methods to be chosen in hymenoplasty operations are determined according to the structure of remaining membrane tissue, sexual intercourse time and their own desires. The success of operation increases depending on the experience of surgeon. Patient privacy, confidentiality and ethical values are also very important.